Bypaths of Kansas History - November 1946

THEY HAD TO BE BRAVE TO GET MARRIED

From the White Cloud Kansas Chief, January 5, 1860.

We believe the practice of belling, and fussing generally, upon wedding occasions, prevails in all parts of the country; but our Western people have a way of their own to do these things. We are informed that a wedding came off somewhere in the Missouri Bottom, a short time ago, and in the evening a crowd went to the place for a spree. They performed such tricks as shooting bullets through the windows, breaking down the door, dragging the couple out of bed, and tumbling them about on the floor, cutting open the feather beds, tearing up the floor, and indulging in other equally innocent tricks. It requires backbone to get married, out this way.

THE VANISHING BUFFALO

From The Kansas Daily Commonwealth, Topeka, February 2, 1872.

Gen. W. B. Hazen, commanding at Fort Hays, Kansas, has taken up the cause of the buffalo, and warmly protests against their wanton destruction by hunters and sportsmen. Gen. Hazen says he has seen numbers of men this winter who have killed during the past season 1,000 each, for the paltry sum of $1 apiece, the carcasses being left to rot on the plains. He further certifies that the buffalo is "a noble and harmless animal, timid, and easily taken as a cow, and very valuable as food for man"-whereupon he insists that the legislative authorities should take steps to prevent "this wicked waste, both of the lives of God's creatures and the valuable food they furnish."

Early in the present session of our legislature, Mr. Edwards, of Ellis, introduced a bill for remedying this evil, so far as Kansas is concerned, and we presume it will be passed. Although the buffalo is not specifically mentioned in our fifteen-times-amended constitution, that instrument unquestionably guarantees him "protection of life," on general principles-at least such protection as will make his "taking off" gradual, careful and regardful.

HOPPER STOPPING WITH MUSIC

From The Commonwealth, Topeka, April 28, 1877.

The citizens of Winfield turned out en masse lately headed by a band of music and fought grasshoppers all day. The account says: "As the people drove clouds of these pests before them, the band discoursed sweet music, and made the war a very amusing and interesting one. The army of citizens fought them all day long, and returned at night in good order."

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Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains

The latest in scholarship on Kansas history, published quarterly since 1978 by the Kansas Historical Foundation.